The Broken Hourglass Linux Update
August 25th, 2006 by micksIt’s been only a week and a couple of days since we ran our first article about The Broken Hourglass, a rather interesting isometric RPG project, and already Planewalker Games‘ Jason Compton writes to let us know about some happy news:
“[...] spurred on by the response to the article on linuxgames.com, Wes set aside a couple of days to do a preliminary Linux port. Things looked good. We did discover that Mesa drivers will be inadequate for our needs, however, so potential users will have to seek out other drivers. The target development machine used the ATI vendor drivers and all was well.”
This doesn’t sound like a huge problem as the vast majority of Linux gamers already use ATi or Nvidia’s binary drivers. The game looks really exciting, so keep that positive feedback coming!
August 25th, 2006 at 9:25 am
Huzzah!
August 25th, 2006 at 9:48 am
looking forward to checking it out.
August 25th, 2006 at 4:06 pm
From their faq
Q: Does WeiNGINE use a 2D or 3D rendering system?
A: 2D. Graphics are an isometric (orthographic) projection simulating a three-dimensional landscape. This approach is found in some of the best-selling CRPGs of the past decade.
It’s a 2D game!!! Mesa shouldn’t matter.
PS: Gamers use mesa too, and it does work. This myth needs to stop.
August 25th, 2006 at 4:10 pm
As I said last time, make a linux port and I’ll buy it. Of course if it turns out to be a hack fest, like Diablo, and not a story driven game, such as Planescape: Torment and the Baldur’s Gate series, then I doubt I’d buy any more I’m afraid.
August 25th, 2006 at 5:49 pm
Linux port: It’s definitely not going to be a “hack fest” — people behind the project are known for their emphasis on storytelling rather than hack’n'slash approach.
Binary drivers: If the author of the engine himself declares Mesa drivers won’t do then I believe he has his reasons for saying so. If anyone chooses to use Mesa drivers for their games — they have my blessing (though I still prefer my Nvidia binary driver).
August 25th, 2006 at 7:10 pm
It’s a 2D game.
August 25th, 2006 at 7:37 pm
Indeed, wierd that a 2D game needs binary drivers.. Maybe they use some OpenGL features only present in the binary drivers even though it’s 2D.
August 26th, 2006 at 1:53 am
Just because the game presents a 2D view to the player doesn’t mean that the engine doesn’t use the hardware acceleration features in 3D graphics cards. As the article said they tested with Mesa, and it didn’t cut it.
August 26th, 2006 at 4:49 pm
At the risk of sabotaging a lengthy semantic debate…
- The engine uses OpenGL as its renderer. The way in which we manage sprite and backdrop data and present it on the screen results in what is thought of commonly as a “2D game.”
- The engine [i]does not run[/i] when Mesa drivers are presented–we make OpenGL calls which are not properly supported by Mesa.
August 27th, 2006 at 8:58 pm
“Those that give up a little open-source for better graphics quality, deserve neither accelerated graphics or open-source.”
“If ye desire the tempest of oppression in ring-0, then depart from us and be far from our cause.”
“Every once in a while, the root of the kernel tree needs to be replenished with the POSIX-compliant code of the people.”
“G is to the Oatse and C is to the Schizzex; fo’ schizzl’ m’nizzle.”
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